Sunshine on Leith director promises ‘something special’

Brian Ferguson

THE director of the new film musical inspired by the hits of The Proclaimers has vowed it will “put smiles on the most hardened faces”.

Days after shooting got underway on Sunshine on Leith in the historic port, English actor Dexter Fletcher, who is at the helm of the film, pledged it would be “something special.”

The cast and crew, including renowned producer Andrew Macdonald, have started filming in Edinburgh although the bulk of location filming will actually take place in Glasgow. The film will feature adaptations of many of the most popular songs of Craig and Charlie Reid, including Throw the ‘R’ Away and I’m On My Way.

Macdonald, whose best-known films include Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Shallow Grave, said the screenplay had been specially adapted from his own stage musical, which was a huge hit for the Dundee rep theatre company five years ago.

Veteran screen stars Peter Mullan and Jane Horrocks will be joined by rising talent like George McKay, Kevin Guthrie, Antonia Thomas and Freya Mavor in the cast.

Fletcher, whose directorial debut Wild Bill was released earlier this year, said: “With Sunshine on Leith we really have something special that will put smiles on the most hardened faces.

“Great songs, a wonderful cast and a lot of heart will create our sunshine world.”

Macdonald added: “We are thrilled to be working on Stephen Greenhorn’s wonderful adaptation along with Dexter and such a great cast. It’s particularly exciting for me to be back producing a film in Scotland for the first time since Trainspotting.”

Sunshine on Leith, which tells of the trials and tribulations of two young squaddies on their return to Edinburgh, is being made by Glasgow-based producers Black Camel Pictures and Macdonald’s own production company, DNA, with backing from both the BBC and Creative Scotland.

In a statement announcing filming is underway, Black Camel said: “Sunshine on Leith is a foot tapping feel good project that is blessed with terrific partners on its journey from script to screen.”